Nonnie Augustine is the author of two books. Her first poetry collection, One Day Tells its Tale to Another was named by Kirkus Review as a "Best of Indie 2013." Her new book, To See Who's There, published in August, 2017, is a collection of poems and short prose. Both books are available at Amazon.com. There is more information and reviews at http://www.nonnieaugustine.com/.

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Thursday, June 03, 2010

The Friendly Waitress

On my two-top young lovers gazeat each other and talk, plan, shareher linguini, his prime rib. He buttersher bread and she murmurs, purrs. Businessmen on per diems pay for crass stares at my legs,chest, hips with twenty percent tips.

Our king, the chef, rules his steamyrealm with steely eyes, paces his rum.Later he’ll grow moist, maudlin, desperate.The sous chef flirts, quips, chops and slices. From behind the pastries, the old Greekgrumbles at the girls who pick up meringues, tarts, and layer cakes.The dishwashers talk broken-Englishtrash as they scrape plates-not the paper-pale junkie. His silence is frantic.

I hoist my tray with six covered dishes.Never mind my bad back, no time. At the big table a toddler’s made an applesauce mess. His cool,spotless mother requires my help.Two more years and I’ll be a nurse.With a gracious smile, I’ll dispense pain pills a half-hour late